Former Hershey Bears goaltender Braden Holtby was scheduled to become a restricted free agent at season’s end, but the Washington Capitals made sure their netminder would not hit the open market come July 1.

Former Hershey Bears goalie Braden Holtby helped backstop the Washington Capitals to a first-round playoff series victory against the Boston Bruins last spring. Monday, he was rewarded with a two-year contract extension.AP Photo / Susan Walsh

The Caps signed Holtby to a two-year, $3.7 million contract extension on Monday that will pay the 23-year-old goalie $1.7 million next season and $2 million in 2014-15.

From the Capitals’ news release announcing the deal:

“We are pleased to sign Braden to a contract extension,” said Capitals vice president and general manager George McPhee. “Braden is a young and talented goaltender who has performed very well in both the regular season and the playoffs during his NHL career. We are fortunate to have two excellent young goaltenders on our roster in Washington.”

Holtby leads his 2008 draft class in playoff appearances (14) and wins (7) and ranks second among all goaltenders drafted in 2008 in career games played (32) and wins (19). He has registered a 19-10-3 record with a 2.51 goals-against average, a .916 save percentage and four shutouts in his 32 career NHL appearances.

Holtby has compiled a 5-6-0 record this season with a 3.37 goals-against average, an .896 save percentage and one shutout. He has started Washington’s last six contests, going 4-2-0 with a 2.35 goals-against average and a .926 save percentage in that span.

Before the NHL lockout ended, Holtby went 12-12-1 with a 2.14 GAA, .932 SvP and four shutouts for the Bears. His 73 career wins rank seventh in Hershey team history and his 14 shutouts are fifth-most on the team’s all-time list.

Holtby was a member of the Bears’ 2008-09 and 2009-10 Calder Cup championship teams.